Is Kobe guilty?

[Wing Nut]

For those overseas, American Basketball star Kobe Bryant goes on trial soon for rape.  There is evidence to go both ways as to guilty or not, but everyone seems to have an opinion.

So is Kobe guilty or not?

[Hagar]

I don't think too many people outside the US will be at all bothered either way. This sort of thing happens here on a regular basis. People are usually more interested in what happened on "Eastenders" the previous evening. There are some gold-diggers around but sadly the celebrities are usually guilty as charged.

PS. Of course, if they're wealthy enough they usually get away with it.

[Fozzer]

Blimey...!
I remember a discussion like this cropping up in the San Francisco KRON4* Web site Forum concerning the guilt, or not, of Scott Peterson in the death of his wife and un-born son....
It turned into a real flame war, and quickly got the whole Forum shut down by KRON4, permanently... .. ... ...!

Paul..... ...!

* http://www.kron.com

[Wing Nut]

Yeah, I don't see that happening here.  We're all a pretty well mannered bunch, but I'll keep an eye on it...

[Craig.]

this is definatly a tough one, however i believe hes innocent.

[Sock]

Really?  I could care less...I don't understand all the hubub about celebrities in this country.  They're nothing special, they can either hit a ball, or pretend real well. :-/

Sock

[Katahu]

I heard a lot about Kobe. I think he's innocent.

Think about it, there's always some evidence pointing against Kobe and the girl. The evidense against Kobe is the girl who claims to be a victim [witness]. But there is also evidence against the girl whom we heard has had business with bad things [like getting drunk or something like that].

So, who's more guilty? The guy who was with the girl, or the girl who was getting into things that she shouldn't be? This is a trick question to me.

[Travis]

Pippin, you forgot to add the voting choice "I don't care now, and I never will."

[Hagar]

I know nothing at all about this & never heard of this Kobe character so I'm completely neutral. In cases like this it's usually one person's word against the other. The fact that the girl has a bad reputation should have nothing to do with it. In the UK, publishing this sort of information before a case is heard makes any subsequent trial impossible & invalid. It would be thrown out of court, simple as that. Whoever published the information would be tried for contempt. The defendant would get off whether guilty or not. Maybe this is the idea in this instance.

[Wing Nut]

Pippin, you forgot to add the voting choice "I don't care now, and I never will."

Is that better?  

[Sock]

Much, thank you kindly.

Sock

[WebbPA]

I think you are forget the difference between the "court of popular appeal" and the real court.

In order to be convicted of a crime Mr. Bryant would have to be convicted beyond a reasonable doubt.  The jury will be 12 people who are so stupid that they have never heard or read anything about the case.  In order to be compelled to pay a civil judgment he would only have to be "guilty" by a preponderance of the evidence (50/50).

Can you say "OJ"? - Not guilty criminally, $3M civil judgment. Then move to Florida where you don't have to pay creditors.

Frankly, I couldn't give a rat's arse whether Kobe Bryant is guilty or innocent.  I'm getting bored with the whole idea that "real time" criminal proceedings are interesting.

[Iroquois]

I don't really care but I've heard there's forensic evidence in his favour.

[Travis]

[quote]

Is that better?

[denishc]

 This is such a non story blowen way out of proportion by the press.  Bryant could have avoided the whole thing and kept his family off the front page if he had done one of two things:

 1.  Ask for a speedy trial
            or
 2. Kept his old man in his pants!